Now Commenting On:

Angels agree to deal with second-round pick Gatto

The Angels select right-handed pitcher Joe Gatto with the 53rd pick of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft

By Alden Gonzalez
/
MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Angels agreed to terms Thursday with their second-round Draft pick, high school pitcher Joe Gatto.

Gatto announced the agreement via his Twitter account, @JGatt33, writing: "The decision has been made. I will sign and start my professional career with the @Angels."

An industry source told MLB.com Draft and prospect expert Jim Callis that the agreement is worth $1.2 million, which is a little more than $150,000 more than slot value for the 53rd overall pick. The Angels would not confirm the deal because Gatto hasn't signed his contract yet.

Gatto is out of St. Augustine Prep in Richland, N.J., which is located less than 15 miles from Mike Trout's hometown of Millville. Gatto, who turns 19 on Saturday, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, can already touch 95 mph with his fastball and had a scholarship to the University of North Carolina as a backup.

Gatto finished his senior year going 7-1 with a 0.94 ERA, striking out 65 batters in 52 1/3 innings and closing out the season with three shutouts. He also played quarterback as a freshman and sophomore, and starred on the basketball team as a junior.

The Angels announced Wednesday that they've signed 14 of their 40 selections from last week's First-Year Player Draft, and Gatto's agreement makes it six of their first 10 picks. The club is still waiting on first-round pick Sean Newcomb, a left-hander out of the University of Hartford who was taken 15th overall.